Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17
OCEAN TO OCEAN ON A BICYCLE.
Mr.. Nellis' Experience ON a Ride Across
Country Of Over 5000 Miles.

From the New York Sun. September Ii.
Among the passengers on the Pacific Mail
steamer Newport yesterday was MI. Geo. w.
Nellis, 1r. Mr. Nellis has achieved distinction
among the wheelmen Of the nation by riding a
52-inch bicycle from Herkimer In this State to San
Francisco In thirty days less time than MI. Thos.
Stevens required for the same journey.
Mr. Nellfs lives In Herk1mer, where his father
is editor Of the Gazette. He was accustomed be-
fore he started on his long journey to run up
and down the roads OF Central New York from
so TO 100 miles at stretch, and, ever since
stevens crossed the continent, had been anxious
to make the TIP. on Tuesday, May "a, at 6
young villagers around him 10 give him send
of, Mr.. Nellis climbed ON his wheel near the
New York Central depot In Herktmer and headed
west along the old stage road over which passen-
gers used 10 ride from Buffalo to Albany. Mr.. C.
p Avery, another Herkimer wheelman. went along
as far as Niagara Falls.
The first days run was 46 miles to Canastota,
where the tourists were delayed one day by ram.
on Thursday they ran 81 miles to Auburn, and the
next day 81 to East Bloomfield. Then they ran 70
miles TO Medina and the next day reached Niagara
Falls The road was everywhere tip-top. On
suspension Bridge with number of associates.
He was astOnished to find that the Canadian Gus
toms officers would not stop him and make him
give bond that his wheel was simply in transit for
Detroit. When he got to Detroit he had lot of
trouble to convince the American of1cials that he
was not smuggling foreign bicycle into the
United states, although the wheel was plainly OF
American make. The roads In Canada were bad,
the worst he found east of the unciviliZed parts
the United States, but in no place was travelling
so cheap except among the ranchmen.
Nebraska IS described as the paradise for wheel
men. The route led along the Platte River, and 1t
was as level and comfortable as II made to order.
he commonly made 20 miles day, but on July
- he ran from shelton TO GOthenburg, distance
OF 80 miles, The next day after this run he whired
his Wheel along over A miles without diSmOunting.
Then he got caught In rain, and had TO walk 80
miles farther before he got place where he could
get bed for the night.
In Nevada and thence through the mountains
he had some pretty rough experiences. He fol-
lowed the line or the Pacific Railroad and usually
had TO walk 30 miles for every 10 he could ride.
Nine miles this side or Tacoma he noticed little
black cloud in the west, but paid no attention to
IL at the moment. But ten minutes later he was
lifted off the track by the force Of a duSt-laden
blast that landed him. fortunately, safe and sound
half way down the bank OF a dry creek that ran
beside the railroad. Finding himself sheltered
from the wind, he staid there. In fifteen min
utes the rain that flooded down had made roar
Ing torrent OF the hitherto dry creek bed. 1t was
all over In twenty minutes, but Mr. Nellis had not
a dry rag on him.
San Francisco was reached on August & The
whole distance covered was 1859 miles. He
reached the Pacific somewhat the worse for wear.
The seat OF his trousers had been patched by the
ways1de more substantially than deftly; his coat
was torn across, and his helmet much the worse
for his numerous headers; but the welcome of the
San Francisco wheelmen could not have been more
hearty II he had been clothed in purple and fine
linen. He had carried his entire kit in 5X9-inch
gr1pSack dashed TO the bar OF his wheel His ex-
penseS for seyenty-one days averaged just 81 a
day.
Mr.. Nellis returned East by the way OF the 18th
mus, but from New York he Will 60 to to Herkimer
on his wheel, leaving this afternoon, so that he
may be able to truthfully say that he has wheeled
twenty-five years Old. He weighed l49a pounds
when he left home, and he lost % pounds en- route.